Futodama
Japanese deity
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Futodama (Japanese: 布刀玉命) or Futotama is a god in Japanese mythology, claimed to be the ancestor of Inbe clan, whose characteristics are believed to reflect the functions of the clan as court ritualists.[1]
| Futodama | |
|---|---|
God of Rituals, Oracle and Divination | |
| |
| Genealogy | |
| Parents | Takamimusubi |
| Siblings | Omoikane, Takuhadachiji-hime |
| Children | Kamotaketsunumi no Mikoto |
| Equivalents | |
| Greek | Phoebe |
Name and etymology
Myths
After Susanoo accidentally killed one of Amaterasu's attendants in her weaving hall, she got upset and locked herself in Ama-no-Iwato, causing the world to plunge into darkness. After almost a year of chaos, Omoikane and the other gods came up with a plan to get her out.[4] Futodama and Ame-no-Koyane were tasked with performing a divination. After Amaterasu left the cave, Futodama used a shimenawa to prevent her from going back to the cave again. This story is said to be the mythical origin of shimenawa.[5]
In the Kogo Shūi, Futodama is placed as the leader of the performed rituals.[1]
Family
| Takamimusubi | Amaterasu | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Futodama | Takuhadachiji-hime | Oshihomimi | |||||||||||||||||||
| Inbe clan | Ninigi-no-Mikoto | ||||||||||||||||||||
In the Kogo Shūi, Futodama is recorded as the son of Takamimusubi, and brother of Takuhadachiji-hime and Ame-no-Oshihi-no-Mikoto.[6][7]
Worship
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Futodama is believed to be enshrined at Awa shrine, where there is a festival to the kami every year on August 10.[8] He is also enshrined at Amatsu Shrine alongside Ninigi and Ame-no-Koyane.[9] The Engi Shiki lists several shrines to Futodama in Izumi Province.[10]
Popular culture
Futodama appears as a demon in the Japanese role playing game Shin Megami Tensei IV.[11]